By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Drivers traveling between Alabaster and Columbiana on Shelby County 26 likely will notice some delays over the next several weeks, but will enjoy a newly repaved road after January.

The Shelby County Highway Department is preparing to repave the road, which serves as a primary route between U.S. 31 in Alabaster and Alabama 70 in Columbiana, over the next few months.

Crews are planning to begin grading and repaving the road on Nov. 19, and will pave each day until the project is completed in the next several weeks, said Highway Department civic engineer Cody Long.

“Our plan is to have all the asphalt down by Christmas, but it’s completely dependent on the weather,” Long said during a Nov. 17 interview. “The contractors are only able to lay asphalt when the temperature is above a certain number. We are starting to get into the rainy season, too.”

While crews are repaving Shelby County 26, portions of the road will be closed each day. The Highway Department is encouraging drivers traveling on the road to plan for more travel time while the work is under way, and is asking drivers to slow down and use caution when workers are present.